Wire clamp and stretcher.



No. 674.445. Patented may 2|, 19m.

J. MARTIN.

WIRE CLAMP AND STRETCHER.

(Anblicntion lad July 24, 1900.)

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f UNITED STATESv PATIENT GFFICE.

JONATHAN MARTIN, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

WIRE CLAMP AND STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 674,445, dated. May 21, 1901.

Application filed July 24: 1900 Serial No. 24,719. (No model.)

To raf/ZZ 11177/0711/ it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JONATHAN MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire Clamps and Stretchers, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to wire-clamps for stretching line-wires of fences and for telegraph-lines; and the primary object thereof is to provide means whereby single or double line-wires may be stretched to the desired tension without altering the construction of the tool.

Afurther object is to provide a cheap, durable, and simple device of the character described which will effectually perform the work for which it is designed.

Having these objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel combinations of parts and details of construction, all of which will be fully described hereinafter and recited in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a top plan view of a clamp and stretcher constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings by reference-numerals, 1 and 2 designate two oppositely-disposed cam-levers pivotally secured to a transverse connecting-bar 3 at or near its respective ends, to which is cast or otherwise secured an intermediate block or rigid jaw 4, positioned between the cam-faces 5 and 6 of the levers 1 and 2. This bar is cut away at 7 and 8 to form recesses or grooves in which slide clamping-bars 9 and 10,- normally held against the respective sides of the block 4 through the medium of a coiled spring 11 engaging the downwardly-projecting pins 12 and 13. These bars 9 and 10 are provided with upwardly-extending end flanges or jaws 14 and 15, which coact with the side walls of the rigid jaw or head/1 to be adapted to receive between each a wire strand, so that when the long arms of the levers 1 and 2'are forced inward the cam-faces thereof will clamp the jaws together to retain the wire or wires in engagement with the device.

16 and 16a designate two link-bars pivotally connected to the ends of the cam-levers and block 17, on which is mounted in bearings 18 and 19 a reel 20. The axle 21V of the reel 20 projects a slight distance beyond the bearing 19 and carries a ratchet mechanism 22, the lever 23 of which is adapted to wind said reel. The pawl 24, mounted on the lug 25, carried by the block 17, is designed to engage the ratchet-wheel to retain the reel rigid with relation to the block just referred to.

In utilizing the device the operator will force the cam-levers apart and outof engagement with the sliding jaws of clamping-bars 9 and 10 ina position to that shown in Fig. 1. The jaws can then be forced away from the head 4 to receive a wire or the end of a wire strand. It will be understood that a chain, wire, or rope connection connected to a post or pole is wound around the reel 20. The operator then manipulates the lever 23 to rotate the reel, thus forcing the link-bars and the cam-levers inward until they assume positions on the same parallel plane. This will cause the cam-faces of the levers to clamp the jaws together and incidentally clamp the wire or wires. As the reel rotates the wire clamped by the jaws will be drawn to the desired tension and secured to the posts or spliced with another'wire, as may be desired.

It will thus be seen that wires from the finest gauze to the greatest may be readily clamped and retained at any predetermined tension by employing the device just described.

I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown,

but reserve the right to make such changes and alterations as might come within the scope of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof. For instance, if neccessary, I may dispense with the reel and substitute some other convenient tension therefor. I also reserve the right to utilize the device for any purpose to which the invention may be put, although I prefer to employ the same for the purpose stated above.

I claim- 1. A wire-clamp comprising a bar carrying a rigid jaw or block, sliding jaws, also carried by said bar, a spring for forcing the sliding jaws normally in contact with the block, cam- IOO levers fonelam ping the sliding jaws against; operated by the cam-levers, and `a block and lnhe biock, and means for Operating lshe eam- I link-bars Connecting the ends of said levers. io levers. In testimony whereof I afx my signature 2. In a Wire-clamp, the combination withv in presence of two Witnesses. two cam-levers connected by a, bar, a block JONATHAN MARTIN. on said bm' t-O form a, rigid jaw, sliding jaws l carried by the bar, and adapted to engage either side of the block, and designed to be Witnesses:

JOHN .'I. THOMSON, GEORGE L. BURGESS. 

